Art History (PhD)

Doctorate (PhD)

Why pursue a Doctorate in Art History?

Expand your advanced training in the study of art history as you critically address recent developments in areas as varied as feminism and gender studies, postcolonial theory, cultural studies, and socio-political analysis. Benefit from unparalleled access to Montreal’s cultural institutions, as well as a research network that spans four universities in the greater Montreal area.

The PhD in Art History is a bilingual interuniversity program that is jointly administered by Concordia University, Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Montréal and Université Laval. With more than 50 research-active faculty members to work under and exceptional inter-library resources, you will undertake rigorous methodological and theoretical training to cover the historical, modern and contemporary periods.

Join a dynamic cohort of students that enjoy great success as researchers. Our commitment to fostering critical and interdisciplinary modes of interpretation has led many students to publish in a variety of distinguished periodicals, including:

Afterimage Online

Cahiers métiers d’art – Craft Journal

Function Magazine

Journal of Eastern Townships Studies

Journal of the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada

Revue du Bibliotèque et Archives nationales du Québec

Third Floor

Journal of Modern Craft

Textile: Journal of Cloth and Culture

Opportunities for professional development are also available to complement your innovative research projects. By taking advantage of occasions to develop and teach undergraduate courses, work on museum projects, edit journals, and organize conferences, our alumni have gone on to establish successful professional careers within and outside of academia.

Program details

Those applying for either full-time or part-time admission should possess a Master of Arts degree or its equivalent in Art History. Applications must include a thesis research project accompanied by a letter of support from the proposed supervisor in the department. Prospective students should therefore contact individual professors, or the Graduate Program Director, to find the right supervisor for their doctoral research project.

Language Requirements. This is a bilingual interuniversity program, offered jointly with the Université de Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal. Students may successfully complete all of its various components in English, in French, or in a combination of both languages. Applicants are therefore required to be fully proficient in English or French. Please refer to the Graduate Admission page for further information on the Language Proficiency requirements and exemptions.

Courses. The courses offered through the interuniversity program are open to all students, regardless of the university at which they are enrolled. All students must take at least 3 credits from Block A. The remaining 9 credits are normally chosen from Block A or Block B. Requests to register in a seminar outside the program require the approval of the supervisor and the Graduate Program Director.

Comprehensive Examinations (ARTH 808). Each student must successfully complete one oral and one written examination, which are evaluated by the three professors constituting the student’s thesis committee. These examinations are based on a pre-established list of readings focused on the theoretical and methodological issues which inform the student’s specific area of research. The exams are intended to verify whether the student is sufficiently prepared to undertake the writing of a thesis. Students determine the language or languages for the examinations. Students who fail these examinations must take them a second time during the following semester. Those failing the second attempt will be withdrawn from the program.

Research Tutorial (ARTH 820). This tutorial is directed by the thesis advisor and is oriented to the student’s thesis topic. Its objective is to allow the student to articulate a detailed research project, define its corpus, and develop its theoretical and methodological hypotheses with a view to obtaining the approval of the thesis committee. This project, including an activity calendar, must be submitted at the end of the student’s first year. Students should register once work is completed and a grade has been assigned.

Doctoral Forum (ARTH 807). In the interests of promoting the development of an intellectual community within the program, a forum consisting of professors and students in the program is held twice a year. Each student, at some point during their degree, must give a paper based on their thesis research. This paper will be evaluated by a committee consisting of three professors and accorded a pass or fail grade. The doctoral forum is bilingual, with translation provided when necessary.

Thesis (ARTH 830). The doctoral candidate must submit a thesis which makes an important and original contribution to knowledge in Art History. The thesis is defended orally before a committee composed of five individuals: the thesis advisor, the two other members of the thesis committee, one examiner from a department or program within the university other than the candidate’s, and one external examiner from outside the four universities.

Language Proficiency. In addition to the requirements for admission, candidates are required to demonstrate their understanding of another language relevant to their doctoral studies.

A letter of support from the applicant's proposed supervisor at Concordia University

Statement of purpose (5-8 pages) should discuss why the applicant has chosen to pursue a Doctorate in Art History at Concordia University. Like a detailed research proposal, the letter should indicate the project that the applicant aims to develop, the contribution to scholarship it will make, and how the applicant's academic and professional background has prepared him/her to undertake the proposed research.

A writing sample (15-20 pages), usually a chapter from the applicant's MA thesis

The Department of Art History is home to the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Institute for Studies in Canada Art, and houses the Journal of Canadian Art History, and the Canadian Women Artists History Initiative, Graduate students benefit from these academically-rich environments and, through the Faculty’s Visual Collections Repository, have access to 300,000 circulating slides and digital images that range from the pre-historic to the contemporary.

Our program offers a uniquely bilingual seminar environment and enables students to develop a cross-cultural awareness of different art historical traditions and approaches.

Students must be able to participate in a bilingual seminar environment. This requires strong comprehension of both written and oral French and English, and superior communication skills in one of the two languages. Knowledge of a third language may be required if the supervisor regards it as necessary to the proposed research.

Our alumni find success in a wide range of professional art careers. Graduates pursue careers in museums, galleries, and artist-run centres, arts writing and criticism and university and college teaching.

Important information about admissions

Please be advised that Concordia University does not process admissions or fee payments through third parties for our degree programs.
All applicants are advised to ensure that they are communicating directly with the university for admissions and fee payments.